Summer Pasta Salad

I must admit, side dishes are not my thing.  If I am assigned to bring a side dish to a potluck, barbecue, or picnic, I panic, I just don't have many go to recipes that I know will always be a hit.  My sister-in-law, Stacy brought this salad to a family barbecue a couple years ago and I was sold on the first bite.  It is so good.  It is now my go to salad for summer time get-togethers.  You must try it!  This recipe makes a lot, so scale it down if making it for a smaller gathering.

Summer Pasta Salad

From: Stacy Hansen

Yields: 30 servings

Time: 30 minutes

Print Recipe

1 16 oz bow tie pasta
3 cups grapes, havled or quartered
3 chicken breasts cooked and diced
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
2 20 oz cans of pineapple chunks, drained
3 celery stalks, diced
1 cup cashews
2 11 oz can mandarin oranges, drained

Dressing:
1 cup mayo
8oz kraft coleslaw salad dressing

Cook pasta according to package directions for al-dente. Rinse pasta in cold water. Mix all salad ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix together mayo and dressing until smooth, pour over salad and mix well.  Chill until serving.

BLT Pasta Salad

Last month I ran the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay! Click here to find out what that is, if you don't already know, this video is very funny! Anyway, It was really fun and also very exhausting.  I am doing it again next year!  I may be a little crazy, but that is okay, it will be fun!  I made this pasta salad to take with me on the trip.  I thought the carbs from the pasta would be a good way to get some energy for all my runs.  I didn't realize that it would taste so good and turn into my new favorite pasta salad.  I have made this salad three more times to take to potlucks and picnics and it is always a hit. Very simple to throw together and it can be made ahead of time if you need to or serve it right away.

BLT Pasta Salad
Adapted from: myrecipes.com
Yields: 4-6 servings
Time: 25 minutes
Print Recipe

8oz penne pasta
1/4 C olive oil
2 T finely chopped red onion
2 T red wine vinegar
1 t dijon mustard
1/2 t salt
10 strips cooked bacon (I used the precooked kind crisped in the microwave)
1 (7oz) bag spinach leaves
2 C cherry tomatoes, cut in to quarters
1/3 C grated parmesan cheese

Cook pasta al-dente according to package directions.  Drain, then rinse with cold water until it is cool. Transfer to a large salad bowl. Add oil, onion, vinegar, mustard, and salt, then toss well.

Cut bacon into 1 inch pieces, add to pasta with spinach, tomatoes, and cheese.  Toss well and serve immediately or store in the fridge.

Lemon Chive Pasta

This creamy pasta is so simple yet so delicious.  The lemony taste is perfect for Spring.  Everyone in my family loved this dish. It will definitely be going into the tried and true collection!

Lemon Chive Pasta
Adapted from: Simply Scratch
Yields: 6 servings
Time: 20 minutes
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1 pound dried farfalle (bow tie) pasta

1 small onion, diced 

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons flour

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped or 2 T dried chives

2 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Prepare the pasta according to package directions, reserving a cup of pasta water. Mean while sauté the diced onions in olive oil over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Once the onions have softened, sprinkle with two teaspoons of flour and cook for one minute. Stir in chicken broth until flour is dissolved and bring to a simmer. Then reduce heat to medium-low and add heavy cream, chives, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add cooked pasta, lemon zest and parmesan and toss. Thin out with a little of the reserved pasta water.  Serve.

Creamy Alfredo Sauce

Olive Garden has the best Alfredo Sauce, hands down, but since its neither good for the hips or the wallet I was bound and determined to come up with my own version.  This is the perfect blend of all that makes Alfredo, Alfredo. Here's the actual Olive Garden recipe and though mine is very different both in cost and calories they are surprisingly similar in taste.  When made with lite cream cheese and skim milk, my recipe weighs in at only 353 Calories and 29 fat grams per serving. Olive Garden’s comes in at a whopping 700 Calories and 43 grams of fat per serving.  This recipe is super simple to make; the whole meal can be finished in about 20 minutes!  You can’t get a table at Olive Garden quicker than that!

Creamy Alfredo Sauce
From: Meg @ Back Pocket Creations
Serves: 6
Time: 15 minutes
Print Recipe


1/2 C Butter (do not use margarine)
1 (8oz) package cream cheese (can use light)
2 t Garlic Powder
1 1/2 C Milk ( I use skim)
6oz bag of grated parmesan cheese
1/8 t black pepper


1. Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Add cream cheese and garlic powder stirring with a wire whisk until smooth.  Add milk a little at a time, whisking to smooth out lumps.  Bring to a slow boil and gradually add the cheese, stirring after each addition, giving it time to melt before you add more. Add pepper.  After adding all the cheese you may find it is too thick for you liking, you can add up to 1/2 C of milk until the sauce has reached desired consistency.


2. Serve over noodles and topped with chicken and/or broccoli.  Enjoy.


"Put that in your back pocket."


-Meg